Seoul: South Korea and Japan will resume their joint maritime search and rescue exercises (SAREX) starting early next month, as announced by South Korea's defense chief during the Asia Security Summit. This development is seen as a significant step in improving bilateral relations between the two nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back revealed the plan during bilateral discussions with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. Ahn emphasized the symbolic significance of resuming the drills, which have been on hiatus for nine years. The SAREX exercises, originally launched in 1999, were designed to enhance coordinated responses between naval forces of the two countries in the event of maritime incidents near the Korean Peninsula.
The drills were last conducted in 2017 but were suspended following a diplomatic dispute in December 2018, involving a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft's low-altitude flyby over a South Korean warship. Both nations had differing interpretations of the incident, leading to strained relations. However, a renewed commitment to cooperation was reached during defense ministers' talks in June 2024, under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
The decision to restart the joint drills was initially agreed upon during Ahn and Koizumi's meeting in Tokyo in January. Before their recent discussions in Singapore, Ahn described the increased defense exchanges as "ping-pong diplomacy," highlighting the progress in their bilateral relationship. Koizumi stressed that the meetings are driven by the necessity to address shared security challenges, rather than mere goodwill.
Koizumi further noted the importance of Japan and South Korea taking a proactive role in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized the significance of strategic cooperation, including alliances with the United States, to enhance deterrence and response capabilities. The Republic of Korea, commonly known as South Korea, continues to play a vital role in regional security dynamics.